77. How California Wines Changed the World

Almost 50 years ago, in the world of wine, there were just three categories: the good stuff (French), the very good stuff (also French), and everything else. Few doubted that anything could be finer than the vines in Burgundy and Bordeaux, and those at the upper end of wine snobbery were unshakable Francophiles. And then an event on May 24, 1976—a notable event that would come to be known by the mythical name “The Judgement of Paris”—dramatically changed the way wines were seen and sought. A highly respected British wine seller and educator, Steven Spurrier, organized a blind tasting that put unlabeled French and California whites and reds in front of nine French experts. This is the story of the changed world since. Our speaker, George Vierra, spent 45 years in the Napa Valley, the heart of the California wine industry. He started wineries, managed wineries, consulted around the world, and spent over 35 years as an Adjunct Professor in the Dept. of Viticulture & Winery Technology at Napa Valley College. He created a website with lectures, papers and research you can see via the links below. To learn more about George's work, go to: https://napavalley.academia.edu/GeorgeVierraWine Here is the script of this talk: https://tinyurl.com/DrinkingStandingUp